Protector for cable splices



1934 J. F. OSBORNE PROTECTOR FOR CABLE SPLICES Filed June 1,

INVENTOR 4 JI. Osurne BY ATTORNEY A 6 ll. E 1 rrnTnz v m Patented Oct. 23, 1934 1,977,774 rnornoiron Fort CABLE seniors JohnF: Osborne, Upper Darby, Pa. Ap ars Jul e: 1, isaifsrial No. 541,507

4claims. (01. 173-268) This inventionrelates to, improvements in protectors particularly adapted for use in connection with uncompleted cable splices.

, In splicing largecables, of thetype having a lead sheath anda number of contained wire conductors, it is frequently necessary to leaveunoompleted splices overnight, ,holidays or week-ends. During suchintervals it is the practice to protect these uncompleted splices from moisture andthe like, by wrapping a pluralityof layersof suitable material about them, and to unwrap, such matei Fig. 5.

rial whenacoess tothe splices is again desiredg This ,methodinvolves considerable timeandg care tions, asfor instance, when a, branch splice is required, or where the jsplice may qbe totally coveredby water. i

ec d ns y. it sl nf bi t lthi ent on to provide an improved. protector for vnncompleted disadvantages. I i M Another object is to provide a protector which, will form a moisture-proof enclosure for uncompleted splices, 1

A further object is to provide a protector which can be applied to and removed from uncompleted splices in a simple and expeditious manner.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description, when considered in con nection with the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

and is notentirely reliableunder certain condiopenings while shown as being of a certain nums them to move from the closed position shown in Figs. 1, 2. and 3, to the open position shown in The ends of, the frame sections have coinciding bent-rout portions which cooperate to form circular openings when the frame sections are closed through whichthe sheathed portions of the cables extend outwardly from thebag 5. These berand arranged as indicated, may comprise in- 65 stead, any other desired number andthe sizes and positions of the opposite openings may be changed 3511851113411. In Fig. 2 theends ofthe frame sections are shown as provided with two openingsB and 9 through which the respective cables 10 and 11 may extend outwardly. The other ends of the frame'sections form an opening 12 through which splices, and one which will overcome the above In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device; Fig. 2 is an elevation as seen from one end of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation as seen from the opposite end of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a broken-away view showing the interior of the device with the ends of the cables to be spliced positioned therein; Fig. 5 is an end elevation, taken 1,, on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the hinged relation of the frame members, and Fig. 6 is a detail, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the tongue and groove connection between the frame members. Referring to the drawing in which the improved 4 device is illustrated, the numeral 5 is applied to a bag or sack made of suitable waterproof material such, for instance, as rubberized fabric. The bag 5 is large enough to provide sufficient space to ,readily admit the bared ends of cables and the splices which may be formed from these ends. The bag 5 is attached to metal framework 6 formed from two elongated and inverted U- shaped sections. These sections are hinged together at their terminating points 7 by pins which pass through openings in the sections to permit the cable 13 extends from the sack, The cables ,10, 11 and 13 provide for a three-way splice. In case a single splice is desired, as for instancebetween the; cables 10 and13,,either ofthe openings 8 or 9. may be plugged withsome such arrangements as, rubber or adummy piece of cable.

'Iheouter surfaceof'theqframe sections have the rubberized fabric 14 applied thereto and maintained in position by a suitable adhesive. Or, if desired, an additional layer of fabric may be provided between the sections and the outer fabric 14, and all may be adhesively united with each other. The fabric 14 is preferably brought over the top portions of the framework sections, and the terminating edges thereof may abut or cohere to a padding of soft rubber 15, or the like. The padding 15 forms an inner compressible lining or gasket for the framework sections throughout. The inner linings 15 may be provided with projections 16 on one side and registering indentations 17 on the other side, which form a tongue and groove connection between the framework sections. The compressibility of the linings 15 is such that when they are clamped together, as will presently appear, they form an airtight and waterproof joint or seal between the framework sections. This compression of the soft rubber 15 also acts upon the closure of the sections to compensate for any abrasions or irregularities in the cable sheaths and forms tight joints at the points of entrance of the cables through the openings in the framework sections.

The framework sections may be joined together by clamping or locking means, such for instance as wing nuts 18 threaded on bolts 19 which extend through coinciding openings provided in the sections from one end to the other. When the nuts and bolts are turned up equally to the proper limits, they cause the rubber material 15 and its tongue and groove connections to seal the protector throughout. It is preferred to provide a wing nut and bolt 21 between the openings 8 and 9 to insure a proper seal at this point.

The openings 8, 9 and 12 may be of a diameter to accommodate a maximum size cable such as shown at 11. However, in the case of cables of the smaller diameter such as those shown at 10 and 13, rubber tape may be wrapped about these cables and suitable adapters or shims 22 may be applied to the cables at th ir points of entrance through the framework.

I A valve 23 is inserted through the bag 5 and is of such character that gas or the like, may be introduced into the bag under pressure, to determine its condition with respect to being airtight.

An alarm system may be also connected to the improved protector and used as an extra precaution where the protector is positioned over cables in the manhole. This alarm system includes a pair of terminals 24 carried by the protector and having a pair of conductors 25 attached thereto, which extend toan alarm 26 and a connected battery at a central ofiice. The loose ends of the conductors extend downwardly to a predetermined depth in the manhole. In the event of water flowing into the manhole to a point where it-reaches the loose ends of the conductors, a circuit is completed to sound the alarm 26.

It will be apparent from the above that aprotector for uncompleted cable splices is provided by means of this'invention, and that suohprotector may be readily applied to or detached from in a simple and expe- 7 material of said sections together and about said cables adjacent their ends to provide with the bag a watertight enclosure for the cable splice, and a valve for said bag through which gas is applied under pressure to said enclosure.

3. A temporary protector for uncompleted cable splices including a bag of waterproof material, a hinged frame integral with the bag and having openings'at opposite extremities for the admission into the bag of cable ends to be spliced together, compressible gaskets carried by the frame, means for clamping the frame to- 100 gether to cause said gaskets to apply pressure about said cables adjacent their ends to provide with the bag a watertight enclosure for the ca- -means to apply pressure about said cables adja- 5 7 cent their ends to provide with the bag a watertight enclosure for the cable splice, and a valve for said bagthrough which gas may be applied under pressure to said enclosure.

JOHN F. OSBORNE. 

